How are walnuts harvested commercially?

The nuts are removed from the tree using a mechanical shaker, a machine that grasps the trunk and shakes the whole tree. The nuts drop to the ground, are then swept into windrows and picked up with harvest machinery. This operation is completed quickly to reduce the time nuts remain on the ground.

First, the orchard is swept clean. Then, mechanical shakers are used to vigorously shake the trees until the walnuts fall. The process is designed to ensure the trees are not harmed. Finally, the walnuts are carefully swept to allow mechanical harvesters to pick them up for cleaning.

Most walnuts are now produced in the San Joaquin and Sacramento Valleys, with more than half of the acreage being located in San Joaquin, Stanislaus, Tulare, Butte, and Sutter Counties (Figure 2). California growers produce 99 percent of the commercial U.S. supply, with Oregon and Washington accounting for the …

At full production on good sites, 1,500 to 2,000 pounds are possible per acre each year. Selling cleaned dried nuts at $0.50 per pound yields a gross of $750 – $1,000 per acre. Direct marketing black walnuts are also a possibility, with retail prices per pound consistently exceeding $12.

Once you are done harvesting the walnuts, you can eat them right away, but keep in mind they won’t be quite like those purchased ones at the grocers. The nuts will be rubbery in texture and are, thus, usually dried which also extends their shelf life.

Poor tree health can cause premature dropping of nuts. … Insect and disease infestations increase during these times of tree stress and can further degrade a tree’s condition, especially if trees are growing in poor soil. Any early defoliation will cause nut drop and low-quality fruit.

Eating at least four walnuts a day will help in curing many diseases, including cancer, obesity, diabetes as well as in maintaining body weight, cognitive, reproductive health and many other lifestyle problems, according to studies. “Walnuts are the powerhouse of nutrients for optimum health.

While most varieties of nuts boast health benefits, the unique fat make-up of walnuts makes them particularly helpful when it comes to lowering cholesterol. Rich in polyunsaturated fats and the only nut source of plant-based omega-3 fatty acids, walnuts are a star food for cardiovascular health.

Soaking the walnuts overnight and then consuming them in the morning is one of the best ways to consume walnuts. To do this, take 2-4 pieces of walnuts and soak them in a cup of water overnight. Have them the first thing next morning. Having soaked walnuts helps in reducing the bad cholesterol in the body.

Though outbreaks due to contaminated nuts are uncommon, they’re very serious. … Furthermore, nuts may contain the toxic carcinogen aflatoxin, which is produced by fungi that sometimes contaminate nuts and grains. It has been detected in both raw and roasted nuts, including pistachios and walnuts.

All walnut varieties are self-fertile, meaning that the pollen can travel from the male parts to the female parts of the same tree and under this procedure the tree can produce nuts. Thus, a single tree can theoretically produce nuts without needing other walnut trees around.

Walnuts are one of the natural food whose shape is like human brain. There’s a reason why the walnuts look like a brain. It contains omega 3 fatty acid which keep the functioning of the nervous system smooth and it also helps in keeping memory sharp.

Black walnut logs bring premium prices, and have since the 1700s, with single trees bringing up to $20,000. Bruce Thompson, author of “Black Walnut For Profit,” estimates a mature stand of black walnut trees can bring about $100,000 per acre in timber value alone.

The larger the diameter, the more a black walnut tree is worth. In fact, black walnut trees that are 40” in diameter can be worth $2,000 or more, depending on the lumber grade. Because of that, many people grow black walnut trees for the purpose of selling them or their lumber.

The price per ton and total value of walnuts have more than doubled since 2008, according to NASS. The nut’s price went from $1,280 per ton that year to $3,230 last year, while the crop’s total annual value ballooned from $558 million to $1.8 billion during that period, the agency reported.